PML-N up in arms over FIA raid on secretariat.

Byline: Zulqernain Tahir

LAHORE -- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday raided the PML-N's provincial secretariat to obtain purported videotapes of accountability judge Arshad Malik who had convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case.

Four members of the FIA's cybercrime wing accompanied by a heavy contingent of police raided the PML-N secretariat at 180-H in Model Town to find the 'tapes'.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said the raid was aimed at harassing its leaders and decided to get an FIR registered against FIA chief Wajid Zia and hold a demonstration outside the agency's building on Temple Road on Friday to lodge its protest.

According to a source, the FIA team searched the PML-N secretariat's main hall and IT room for about 40 minutes and took away the hardware of the computer believing that the purported video was run on it. A heavy contingent of police was deployed ahead of the FIA raid to stop the PML-N workers from creating any hindrance. PML-N deputy secretary general Attaullah Tarar allowed the search after seeing the [search] warrants.

On July 6, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz had held a press conference at the Model Town secretariat and played a 'secretly recorded' video in which judge Arshad Malik was allegedly seen saying that he was pressurised into convicting her father Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

Judge Malik was suspended subsequently and is facing an inquiry in this respect.

Maryam had claimed that the video tapes had been provided by a 'PML-N sympathiser'.

The FIA has summoned PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid and party's Punjab information secretary MPA Azma Bokhari on Dec 30, and Attaullah Tarar on Dec 27 (today) at its Lahore office to record their statements. The source believes the FIA may also summon Maryam Nawaz as part of its extended investigation into the matter. 'However, without an order from the top, the FIA will not proceed against Maryam,' he said.

After releasing the pictures of the FIA raid later in the evening, PML-N information secretary Marriyum Auranzeb announced getting an FIR registered against the FIA chief for 'vandalism'. 'The PML-N has decided to register an FIR of dacoity and vandalism against Wajid Zia. This illegal raid by FIA has proved that everything the judge said in the video was true to the last word. This also proved that the video of judge Malik was absolutely authentic and he sentenced Nawaz Sharif under...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT